Community Health Worker

The following county has a vacancy:  Houston County deadline to apply is 08/28/2026 by 4:30 p.m. 

As defined by the CHW Section of the American Public Health Association:  A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

• The community health worker serves as a bridge between the community and the health care, government and social service systems.
• The CHW will complete billable and non-billable activities including chronic disease management education. 
• Enhance care quality by aiding communication between provider and patient to clarify cultural practices 
• Educate community members about how to use the health care and social service systems
• Educate the health and social service systems about community needs and perspectives  
• Establish better communication processes
• Increase access to primary care through culturally competent outreach and enrollment strategies
• Make referrals and coordinate services
• Teach people the knowledge and skills needed to obtain care
• Facilitate continuity of care by providing follow-up
• Enroll clients into programs such as health insurance and public assistance
• Link clients to and inform them of available community resources
• Articulate and advocate needs of community and individuals to others
• Be a spokesperson for clients when they are unable to speak for themselves 3. Involve participants in self and community advocacy
• Map communities to help locate and support needed services
• Promote wellness by providing culturally appropriate health information to clients and providers
• Educate clients on disease prevention
• Assist clients in self-management of chronic illnesses and medication adherence
• Provide individual social and health care support
• Organize and/or facilitate support groups
• Refer and link to preventive services through health screenings and healthcare information
• Conduct health related screenings
• Build individual capacity to achieve wellness
• Build community capacity by addressing social determinants of health
• Identify individual and community needs
• Mentor other CHWs – capacity building
• Seek professional development (continuing education)
• See Minnesota Department of Health website for the Community Health Worker Toolkit as well as general information on the Community Health Worker

Merit System Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification from an accredited program or must obtain within 2 years of hire. (CHW Certification Curriculum) 
• One (1) year of related Community Health experience.
• Experience in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and Publisher.

The examination will consist entirely of a rating of education and experience based on applicants answers to the scored supplemental questions.


Submit an application by clicking "Apply" in the upper, right-hand corner